Irinotecan (Camptosar, Campto) is a drug used for the treatment of cancer.
Irinotecan prevents DNA from unwinding by inhibition of topoisomerase 1. In chemical terms, it is a semisynthetic analogue of the natural alkaloid camptothecin.
Its main use is in colon cancer, in particular, in combination with other chemotherapy agents. This includes the regimen FOLFIRI, which consists of infusional 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irinotecan.
Irinotecan received accelerated approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996 and full approval in 1998. During development, it was known as CPT-11.
It is on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, the most important medications needed in a basic health system.

Uses

Irinotecan is a topoisomerase I inhibitor for LoVo cells and HT-29 cells with IC50 of 15.8 μM and 5.17 μM, respectively

Definition

ChEBI: A member of the class of pyranoindolizinoquinolines that is the carbamate ester obtained by formal condensation of the carboxy group of [1,4'-bipiperidine]-1'-carboxylic acid with the phenolic hydroxy group of (4S)-4,11-diethyl-4,9-dihydro y-1H-pyrano[3',4':6,7]indolizino[1,2- hydrochloride]quinoline-3,14-dione. Used (in the form of its hydrochloride salt trihydrate) in combination with fluorouracil and leucovorin, for the treatment of patients with metastatic adenocarcino a of the pancreas after disease progression following gemcitabine-based therapy. It is converted via hydrolysis of the carbamate linkage to its active metabolite, SN-38, which is ~1000 times more active.